16 Strange Baseball Records That May Never Be Broken

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Baseball rules have changed plenty since the sport’s inception, but some records are so crazy, they will probably never be broken. From century old sports legends to modern superstars, these records are here to stay.

1. Chief Wilson

Black and white photo of a baseball player from the early 20th century. He is wearing a uniform with vertical stripes and a cap. The word "PIRATES" runs down the front of his jersey. The background is blurred, focusing attention on the player.
wikimedia commons

36 Triples in 1912
It’s been over a century since anyone has been able to come close to Wilson’s crazy record. In fact, Wilson himself never even hit half as many again. The only athlete who has even come close is Jimmy Rollins of the Philadelphia Phillies, hitting 20 in 2007.

2. Babe Ruth

A baseball player stands in front of the dugout, wearing a striped uniform and cap. Other players can be seen sitting in the dugout behind him. A crowd fills the stands in the background. The scene appears to be from an older, historical era of baseball.
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177 Runs in 1921
Babe Ruth’s record-setting season in 1921, which also saw him hit 59 home runs, was so outrageous that he was the subject of scientific studies. He made the cover of the October 1921 issue of Popular Science Monthly, where his “secrets” were supposedly spilled.

3. Ichiro Suzuki

A baseball player in a navy blue and gray uniform swings a bat during a game, making contact with the ball. The player is in mid-action with a focused expression, and the dugout and spectators are visible in the background.
kieth allison/wikimedia commons cc by-sa

262 Hits in 2004
Getting close to Ichiro Suzuki’s single-season hit mark for the Seattle Mariners has become increasingly rare. It’s nearly impossible to get the opportunity to make contact at this amount in today’s games.

4. Ron Hunt

A black and white photograph of a baseball player wearing a cap with a monogrammed logo and a jersey. The player is looking slightly to the left with a neutral expression. The image appears to be from the mid-20th century.
new york mets/wikimedia commons

50 Hit By Pitch, 1971
Ron Hunt from the Montreal Expos holds the modern record for Hit By Pitch in a single season. Hunt had a whopping 50. The only players who have come close are Brandon Guyer of the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Indians with 31 in 2016 and Anthony Rizzo of the Chicago Cubs with 30 in 2015.

5. Joe Dimaggio

A black-and-white photograph of a baseball player wearing a cap with the letter 'N' and 'Y' and a jersey with the words "New York." The player is smiling and looking directly at the camera.
bowman gum/wikimedia commons

56-Game Hitting Streak
The New York Yankees’s Joe DiMaggio is arguably one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. He scored a single for his only hit in 1941 against the White Sox, then had at least one hit in 56 games afterward.

6. Nolan Ryan

A baseball player in a grey uniform with "RANGERS" written on the front, wearing a blue cap with a red and white "T", holds a glove in both hands while on a baseball field. The background shows the grass outfield and part of the infield dirt.
chuck anderson/wikimedia commons cc by

Seven No-Nos
In his three decades of pitching for the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers, Ryan threw seven no-hitters. This is three more than any other pitcher ever. So far, no one has touched this.

7. Barry Bonds

A baseball player wearing a white San Francisco Giants uniform stands at bat, holding a bat. He is wearing a helmet, black gloves with orange details, and looking intently ahead, possibly at the pitcher. The background shows a stadium with spectators.
jim accordino/wikimedia commons cc by

Single-Season Home Runs
Barry Bonds is known for many things, including accusations of steroid use. But his record single-season home runs (73 in 2001) has yet to be touched. His career high of 762 is also a record holder.

8. Hugh Nicol

A vintage photograph shows a baseball player dressed in an old-fashioned uniform. He is leaning forward with one knee bent, stretching out his gloved hand to catch a ball. The image has a nostalgic feel with its black-and-white tones.
internet archive book images/flickr

Stolen Bases (138/1887)
Head back to the 1800s to discover who had the most stolen bases ever, not based on era. Nicol, who played for the Cincinnati Reds, grabbed an extra base 138 times in 1887.

9. Hack Wilson

A black-and-white portrait of a man in a baseball uniform and cap, looking directly at the camera with a serious expression. The background is indistinct, suggesting it might be a sports venue or dugout.
metropolitan museum of art/wikimedia commons

RBIs (191/1930)
For over 90 years, no one has beaten Hack Wilson’s incredible season in 1930. The Cubs player totaled 191 runs batted in, even beating legendary Lou Gehrig, who had 185 in 1931.

10. Grover Alexander

A black and white photograph of a baseball player wearing a cap with a "P" on it and a uniform. The player has a serious expression and a clean-shaven face with freckles. The background is blurred, suggesting it may be taken in a dugout or similar setting.
charles m conlon/wikimedia commons

Single Pitching Shutouts (16/1916)
Instances of a pitcher completing a game and shutting out an opponent are a thing of MLB past, but no one who loves baseball history can forget Grover Alexander’s 1916 season. The Philadelphia Phillies player tossed 16 shutouts and is considered one of the most successful pitchers ever to play the game.

11. Jody Davis

A baseball player wearing a blue Chicago Cubs uniform and a blue batting helmet looks downward. The name "Jody Davis" is written at the bottom of the image. The background is blurred, with faint figures visible.
indiana blue sox/wikimedia commons

89 Base Runners Caught Stealing, 1986
Davis, a catcher for the Chicago Cubs, holds the MLB record for the number of baserunners caught stealing, at 89, back in 1986. Considering how the game has changed, there are no longer enough steal attempts for one to throw out baserunners like Davis today.

12. Joe Sewell

Black and white photo of a baseball player wearing a cap with the letter "C" and a jersey that reads "WORLD'S CHAMPIONS." He is standing with his hands on his hips, looking directly at the camera, and a dugout is visible in the background.
bain news service/wikimedia commons

Three-Strikeout Season in 1932
New York Yankee Joe Sewell still holds the record for fewest strikeouts over a full season, with three in 1932. Sewell had 7,132 career at-bats, yet only heard the umpire say “strike three” 114 times.

13. Cal Ripken Jr.

A baseball player wearing a black jersey and red Franklin batting gloves prepares to bat. He has a focused expression, holding the bat in a ready position. The background shows a stadium with spectators in the bleachers.
rdikeman/wikimedia commons cc by-sa

2,632 Straight Games Played
Until Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles Came along, Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees held the record of 2,130 consecutive games for 56 years. But Ripken Jr. beat it with a 2,632 consecutive game streak compiled over more than 16 years.

14. Babe Ruth

Sepia-toned photo of a baseball player wearing a classic striped uniform and cap with a bat poised on his shoulder. His uniform features long socks and cleats. The photo includes a handwritten signature, "George Herman Babe Ruth.
irwin la broad & pudin/wikimedia Commons

177 Runs, 1921
Babe Ruth is arguably the greatest player in all of Major League Baseball, and his records still stand over a century later. Red Sox player Ruth still holds the record for most runs scored in a single season, with 177 runs scored in 1921.

15. Ed Walsh

Black and white photo of a serious-looking man wearing a baseball cap and a thick cardigan over his jersey. He appears focused and determined, with the background blurred out, suggesting a sports setting.
paul thompson/wikimedia commons

Lifetime ERA of 1.82
Walsh is known for his 40-win season for the 1908 Chicago White Sox, but is also infamous for his earned run average of 1.82. It’s still the lowest major league ERA ever posted.

16. Pete Rose

An older man wearing a white baseball cap and white long-sleeved shirt smiles against a colorful background. The hat features a stylized letter "C." He has a gentle expression and the backdrop includes partially visible playful graphics and text.
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4,256 Hits
Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds was a Major League Baseball hit leader, with 4,256 hits throughout his career. The switch-hitter had over 3,000 hits batting left, and 1,000 batting right. Despite his record-breaking number, Rose never made it to the Hall of Fame thanks to his gambling scandals.

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